Rockstar’s next Grand Theft Auto comes out a month from now. After two delays, Grand Theft Auto VI launches on Thursday, November 19th, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. It is a staggered launch, so the game unlocks at midnight in each time zone rather than at the same moment worldwide.
Quick answer: GTA 6 unlocks at 12:00AM local time on November 19th, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Preloads open at midnight local time on November 12th.
Release time: Thursday, November 19th, 2026, at 12:00AM PST (US West Coast)
GTA 6 release status
- Status: Confirmed
- Release date: Thursday, November 19th, 2026
- Release time: 12:00AM local time in every region
- Available for PlayStation 5, plus Xbox Series X/S.
- Preload: November 12th at midnight local time
- PC: not announced
Rockstar set the November 19th date on November 6th, 2025. That was the second time it moved the launch, and the studio said the extra months were for polish. The launch trailer arrived on October 15th, 2026. Pre-orders are open on both consoles.
GTA 6 launch times by region
The game unlocks at midnight local time, so the Pacific is first and the Americas are last. The rollout covers about a full day. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S unlock at the same time within each region. The table converts each local midnight to UTC so you can compare regions.
| Region | Local release time | UTC equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Nov 19, 12:00AM NZDT | Nov 18, 11:00 |
| Australia (east coast) | Nov 19, 12:00AM AEDT | Nov 18, 13:00 |
| Japan and Korea | Nov 19, 12:00AM JST/KST | Nov 18, 15:00 |
| India | Nov 19, 12:00AM IST | Nov 18, 18:30 |
| United Arab Emirates | Nov 19, 12:00AM GST | Nov 18, 20:00 |
| Central Europe | Nov 19, 12:00AM CET | Nov 18, 23:00 |
| UK and Ireland | Nov 19, 12:00AM GMT | Nov 19, 00:00 |
| US East | Nov 19, 12:00AM ET | Nov 19, 05:00 |
| Mexico and US Central | Nov 19, 12:00AM CT | Nov 19, 06:00 |
| US West | Nov 19, 12:00AM PT | Nov 19, 08:00 |
New Zealand unlocks first, which is 3AM PT or 6AM ET on Wednesday, November 18th. Some players use that gap to start early. On Xbox, you can set the console’s time zone to New Zealand in settings. On PS5 it takes more work, because you have to buy the game on a separate account set to that region.
GTA 6 price and editions
| Edition | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $79.99 |
| Ultimate Edition | $99.99 |
Each edition comes with its own bonus items, which unlock when the game goes live on November 19th. A retail box is available, but it holds a download code instead of a disc. The box also includes a paper map of Leonida, as Rockstar’s boxed games usually do.
Buying the boxed version does not save you the download. You still have to install the whole game at launch, so on a slow connection, a digital pre-order with a preload is the safer choice.
GTA 6 preload on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
If you pre-order digitally, the download opens at midnight local time on November 12th. That is one week before launch. The preload is how the game can start the moment your region hits midnight on the 19th.
Rockstar has not announced how much storage the game needs. For comparison, GTA 5 takes about 94GB on current-generation consoles, and GTA 6 has a much larger map. Plan to clear well over that amount before preloading. If the download finishes and the game tile shows a launch date or countdown instead of a play button, the preload worked. It will become playable at midnight your time.
GTA 6 PC release date
GTA 6 launches only on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and Rockstar has not confirmed a PC version or date. Industry reports point to the first quarter of 2027, which would mean before the end of March. That timing is unofficial.
A PC release on that schedule would give Rockstar its shortest-ever wait for PC players. GTA 4 arrived on PC eight months later, Red Dead Redemption 2 after 13 months, and GTA 5 after 19 months. Rockstar has not announced a date, so the November 19th launch remains console-only. This single-player game takes place in Leonida, Rockstar’s version of Florida, and stars Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
